Firing mechanism for guns.



PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

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PIRING MBGHANISM FOR GUNS. APPLICATION FILED APB. 23.1905.

PATENTBD-D'EG. 25, 1906.

y W. H. DRIGGS.v

PIRING MEQHANISM FOR GUNS.

APPLIGATION FILED un. 23. 1906. v

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f W. H. DRIGGS.

FIRING MEcHANIsM FOR GUNS.l PPLIUAVTION FILED APB. 23. 190B.

PATBNTED 1336.25, 1906i lilium: i mini-i' s SHEETS-SHEET s.

To a/ZZ whom t may 007006771.:

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I WILLIAM HALE DRIGGS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT L OF COLUMBIA.

AsSIsNORv To THE DRIGGS SEARURY ORDNANCE CORPORATION, 'OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FIBING'MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

'Anuman ne@ April 23,1906. Serin No. 31%,.265.

y Beit known that LWILLIAM HALE DRIGGS,

i a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new andiuseful `Irriprovements in Firing Mechanism forGuns; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make'and use the same.

letters and numerals throughout the several ,l ss

My present invention relates to improvementsin firing apparatus for guns ,and it consists more especially in im rov'e'ments in apparatus forringy a gun eit er by'percussion or -by electricity, as may be preferred, using substantially the same principal parts with such additions as may-be necessary.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same parts are indicated bythe same views.

Figure 1 shows a verticallongitudinal section through abreech -block of the v'wedge type, showing the adjacent parts ofthe gun.

This section-is taken along the broken line 1 1v of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction'of the arrows. Figure 2-shows a section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking down. view ofthe gun, partly in section, along the broken line 3 3 of Fig. i and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 shows a section along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and looking yin the direction -of the arrows.y Fig. 5 lshows a section along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6

shows in side elevation the firing mechanism in the cocked position.

The gun and slide are shown in dotted lines and parts are omitted forthe sake of. clearness in' the drawings.

., 7 isa -plan view of thefiringfmec-hanism shown in Fig. 6; andFig.' 8 isla detail showing the firing-pin in the cocked position..

For convenience of reference lthe urely mechanicalparts will be designated by etters and the electrical connections andinsulating material will be indicated byy numerals.`

A represents the gun-body, B the breechblock,.and C an arm attached to the rocking slide, or cradle of the gun.' This arm Gais ,provided with overhanging flanges C2, adapted to receive Vthe ribs A2 on the guide-lugs A Fig. 3 is a rear at each side of the gun. The gun recoils inl the cradle, as is well knownin the art.

D represents the -cocking-lever, which is made in the form of a bell-crank pivoted on the pin E. This lever has a cooking-arm D and a head D2, which head engages in a slot in the firing-pin, as will be hereinafter described. The cooking-arm D is provided with a cooking-toe CZ, which engages the arm F on the sear F. lWhen the gun is cocked, the face f of this arm F engages the toe d', as shown in Fig. 6, but after the gun has been fired these arts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. T e breech of the gun is provided with a vertical slot a for the cooking-toe to travel up and down in as the block is raised or lowered and witha shoulder a to arrestl Vmechanism will be hereinafter described.

The head D2 of the cocking-lever D engages in the slot H0 in the firing-pin H. The rearl 'wall of ysaid slot is shown at H in Fig. 1.

This firing-pin H carries an. insulated head ing Y H2, terminatingin the pin-point h. 'This firing-pin is shouldered, as at h3, to engage the. ring L, (see Fig. 1,) and the breech-block is correspondingly shouldered, as at t3, to limit the forward travel of this ring in the block for purposes to be hereinafter described.

I represents the firing-spring, whose rear end L normally presses the head D2 back against lthe art H of the firing-pin, while .the front en of this spring 'i' presses against the ring L, as shown in Fig. 1. The spring is normally held under compression between theface g of the bushing G and the ring L. (See Fig. 1.)

The sear F carries an armF2 with alateral extension F3, to which is connectedone end of the spring M. The other end of the spring engagesthe hook m ofthe pin M', secured to the gun. Thus the tendency of this spring Mis to rock the sear, tendingv to cause the arm F to engage the shoulder a', (see Fig. .1,) but permitting the said arm to be pressed .downward by the cocking-toe d', as the breechblock descends. This spring also causes the extension F; on the arm F2 to engage the lug n on the rod N fast to or integral with the rod N, which rod carries at its forward end an arm N2 beneath which projects the trigger N3 just in front of the pistol grip P, which is car ried by the arm P integral with the late P2, fast to the arm C, secured to the cradle of the gun. By pulling 'on this trigger N3 the rod N will be slid backward, rocking the sea-r F against the action of the spring M and cans ing the face f of the cocking-arm F to pass clear of the cooking-toe d. This will release the cooking-lever, and the spring 1 will drive the firingrpin forward, firing the gun, as will be hereinafter described. The trigger-rod is normally pressed forward by a spring O.

The electrical connections are as follows: The current comes in the positive wire 1 (shown to the left of Fig. 3) and enters the binding-post 2 beneath the binding-screw 2, This binding-post is insulated from the arm C by means of the insulating-bushing 3.

From thebinding-post 2 the current entersl the conducting-plug 4 in the insulating-bushing 5, and thence passes to the conductingplunger 6, pressed forward by the spring 7 and thence passes to the conducting-plug 10. This plunger, plug, and spring are insulated, as at 8 and 9. From the plug 10i-he current passes to the conductor 11,insulated,as at 12, and thence to the screw 13, having a milled head 13, and this screw passes through the insulating material 15 and connects the conductor 11 with the conducting strip 14. This strip 14, with the conducting material 1.5, is dovetailed into the rear face of the breech of the gun, as shown in Fig. 5, and its outer face is iiush withthe face of the gun and is thus protected against likelihood of injury from careless operation of the gun or from small projectiles.` From the strip 14 the current passes to the spring 16, which is held in lace by the 'insulated screw 18 and is itse f insulated, as at 17. The arm 16a of this spring presses against the conducting-strip 14, and the opposite arm lb presses against the conducting-piece 19, which is insulated, as at 20, and is connected to the conductingblock 21 below the spring 22, which presses u ward the conducting-plunger 23. This p unger, spring, and block are insulated, as at 24. The plunger 23 contacts with the conducting-piece 25, insulated, as at 26, and this piece 25 is connected to the wire 27, insulated,

as at 28. This wire 27 and tsinsulatingcovering 28 are preferably mounted in a dovvetailed groove in the front of the lever D, which 'groove is then filled in with amalgam U. 2,) and thus this wire is held firmly mplace without likelihoodr of injury from ordinary causes. The upper end of this wire 27 is connected to a conducting-block 30,`"niountedin insulating material 31, carthe conducting-plug 35, as is also the firingpoint h. The head H2 of the firing-pin projects into a chamber a,0 in the nose of the breech-block, as shown in Fig. l and is sepaair-space and has at its base an insulatingwasher 36.

The operation of the device is as follows: j

Suppose it be desired to fire mechanically. The block is shown in Fig. 1 in the closed position with the firing mechanism in the position assumed after the gun has been fired.

8o rated from the walls of said chamber by an ,i

ln the operation of opening the breech for l reloading the toe d will slide down the slot a, pressing back the arm F against the action of the `coil-spring M, and as soon as this `toe passes this arm the arm F snaps back to the position engaging the shoulder a. The spring I will maintain the lever D and the firing-pin in the position shown in Fig. 1 so long as the breechblock is down. When the breech-block is raised again, the toe d will strike the arm F', and since the latter bears against the shouldera the further upwa'rd movement of'the breech-block will cock the firing mechanism, causing the face f to engage the toe d. When the mechanism is cocked, the ring L will be drawn back, compressing the spring I, as shown in Fig. 8. N ow if the arm F is released from engagement with the toe d', as by pulling on the trigger N3, the spring I will force the ring L forward, carrying with it the iiring-pin and the head of the sear, and this ring will con tinue its forward travel until it abuts against the shoulder b3 of the breech-block. At this time the ring L will be arrested; but the inertia of the firing-pin will cause the point h to fly farther forward, striking the primer and exploding the charge. The reaction of the spring on the scar-head will immediately return the firingin to the initial position, (shown in Fig; 1,l3thus drawing the point h back clear of thenose of the breech-block and preventing any injury to the same as the breech-block is raised or lowered and also drawing same clear of the primer. To fire electrically; the gun is automatically cocked by the closing of the breech-block, as already described with reference to the mechanical operation, or it may be cocked by hand by pulling the head D2 of the lever D back with a hook or an eye en aging in the hook cl2 until the toe d passes c ear of the arm F', when the face f will snap back to the cocked position, and'when the cooking-lever is released the spring I will cause the toe d to engage the face f. During the period of electric firing one pole of the source of electricity is maintained in electrical connection with the wire l, and the other pole is connected to some part of the gun-mount in the usual way. The circuit is completed from the wire 1 through the conductors 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, so, 32, 34, and 35 to the point h. There is a break here which is closed vwhen the trigger is pulled, and the yfiring-pin flies forward under the action of the spring I, causing the point h to strike the Thus they primer and complete -the' circuit. same iiring mechanism may be used absolutely without change` to fire either by percussion or byelectricity, and Where combination primers are used, which are firedV either by percussion or electricity, one or the other of the agencies will accomplish the desired result.

hlt Will be obvious that the percussion apparatus may be used with the ordinary percussion-primer and the electric apparatus with the ordinary electric primer, while the apparatus is especially adapted for use with combination primers of the character just referred to.

' By having the conductors'14, 19, 25, and 27, with their insulating material, inlaid in the face of the correspondingv parts these conductors are not apt to be injured or affected in the ordinary handling of the gun or even should the gun be struck by small proj ectiles ,1 and they are not likely to get in the way in the operation of the gun, as happens 'where loose wires are used or where wires are attached to the parts of the gun and mount exterior to the surface thereof.

By having spring-plungers used in connection with the various contacts a good electric contact is secured, vwhich is especially desirable at points where there is apt to be a film of grease or water or other non-conducting-material.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein-described -apparatus which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters vPatent of the United States, is-

1. A combined percussion and electric firing mechanism for use with guns having 'reciprocating breech mechanism comprising a firing-pin, slotted in its rear end and provided `with a collar near lits forward end, the said lever having'an arm projecting into said slot in the firing-pin and provided withl a cookingtoe projecting into a slot in the Wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided l with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, an arm on said sear, a spring connected to said arm and normally rocking said sear to the initial position, a sliding rod normally held in engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod whereby said rod may be drawn backward rocking said sear against the action of said spring, With electrical connections carried by the gun, the cocking-lever and the firing-pin, whereby the circuit may be closed when the firing-pin strikesthe primer, substantially as described.

2. A combined percussion and electric firing mechanism for use with guns having .reciprocating breech mechanism comprising a firing-pin, slotted in its rear end and provided with a collar near its forward end, the said collar being adapted to engage a shoulder on the breech-block beforevthe pin strikes the primer, a coil-spring mounted under compression on said firing-pin and held between vsaid collar and a shoulder'on the breech-block toward the rear of said pin, a bell-crank cocking-lever having an arm projecting into said slot in the firing-pin and provided with a cocking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun andprovided with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, an arm on said sear, a spring connected to said arm and normally rocking said sear to the mitial position,

a sliding rod normally held in engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod, whereby said rod may be drawn lbackward rocking said sear against the action ofA 3. A combined percussion and electric iring mechanism for use with guns having reciprocating breech mechanism comprising a firing-pin slotted in its rear end and provided with a collar near its forward end, the said collar being adapted to engage a shoulder on the breech-block before the pin strikes the primer,a coil-spring mounted under compres sion on said firing-pin andheld between said collar and a shoulder onthe breech-block toward the rear of said pin, a bell-crank cocking-lever havingl an arm projecting into said slot in the firing-pin and provided with a cooking-toe projecting into a slot in the .Wall

Ico

IIO

of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, an arm on said scar, a spring coimected to said arni and normally rocking said sear to the initial position, a sliding rod normally held in engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod whereby said rod may be drawn backkward rocking said sear against the action of said spring, the said iiring-pin being provided with a conduoting-head insulated from the body of the pin and from the gun, electrical conductors within said firing-pin but insulated therefrom, electrical conductors inlaid in the face of the cooking-lever and insulated therefrom, and electrical conductors oontained in but insulated from the gun-body, with electrical conductors carried by an arm on the cradle and making electrical connections with the conductors carried by the gun when the gun is in the initial or run-out posi tion, thus leaving the only break in the circuit, that between the point of the iiring-pin and the primer, which break is closed when the firing-pin iiies .forward under the action of its spring, substantially as described.

4. A combined percussion and electric iiiing mechanism comprising a firing-pin, provided with a collar near its forward end, the said collar beiner adapted to engage a shoulder on the breec -block before the pin strikes the primer, a coil-spring mounted under compression on said firing-pin and held between said collar and a shoulder on the breeclrblock toward the rear of said pin, a bell-crank lever having an arm engaging the firing-pin and provided with a cooking-,toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the un, a scar pivoted in the gun and provided with a cooking toe adapted to engage the toe of the oockinglever, a spring norm ally rocking said searto the initial osition, and a trigger with mechanism contro led thereby for rocking said Sear against the action of said spring, with electrical conductors carried in part by said oocking-lever and the firing-pin, whereby the cir cuit may be closed when the firing-pin strikes the primer, substantially as described.

5. A combined percussion and electric firing mechanism, comprising a firing-pin, a coil-spring mounted under compression in said pin and adapted to impel said pin forward to the firing position and to retract the pin-point slightly after firing, a cooking-lever iaving an arm engaging the firing-pin and provided with a cocking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided with a cocking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, a spring normally rocking said sear to the initial position, and a trigger with mechanism controlled thereby for rocking said sear against the action of said spring, with electrical conductors carried in part by said cooking-lever and the firing-pin, whereby the circuit may be closed when the firing-pin strikes the primer, substantially as described.

6. A combined percussion and electric iii'- ing mechanism comprising a firing-pin, a coil-spring mounted under compression on said pin and adapted to impel said pin forward to the firing osition and to retract the pin slightly after irin a cooking-lever having an arm engaging t 1e firing-pin and provided with a cooking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the un, a sear pivoted in the gun and provide with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, an arm on said sear, a s ring connected to said arm and normally roc ring saidsear to the initial position, a sliding rod normally held in engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod whereby said rod may be drawn backward rocking said Sear against the action of said s rin with electrical connections carried gy tie gun, the cooking-lever and the :firing-pin, whereby the circuit may be closed when. the iring-pin strikes the primer, substantially as described.

7. A combined percussion and electric iiring mechanism comprising a 'ring-pin, provided with a collar near its forward end, the said collar being adapted to engage a shoulder on the breech-block before the pin strikes the primer a coil-spring mounted under compression on said firing-pin and held between said collar and a shoulder on the breechblock toward the rear of said pin, a bell-crank cookingdever having an arm engaging the fir ing-pi1i and provided with a cooking-toe projeotinU into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, a spring normally rocking said scar to the initial position, and a trigger with mechanism controlled thereby for rocking said sear against the action of said spring, the said firing-pin being rovided with a conducting-head insulate from the body of the pin and from the gun, electrical conductors within said firing-pin but insulated therefrom, electrical conductors secured toA the cooking-lever and insulated therefrom, and electrical conductors from the latter to the source of electricity, whereby the circuit is closed when the firing-pin strikes the primer, substantially as described.

8. A combined percussion and electric firing ineohaiiism comprising a firing-pin, a coil-'spring mounted under compression in said pin and adapted to iinpel said pin forward to the firing position and to retract the pin-point slightly after firing, a cooking-lever having an arm engaging the firing-pin and provided with a cooking-toe projectmg into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided with a cookingtoe adapted to engage the toe of the cookinglever, a s ring normally rocking said sear to the initia position, and a trigger with mechanism controlled thereby for rocking said sear against the action of said spring, the said firing-pin being provided ywith a conducting-head insulated from the body of the pin and from/the gun, electrical conductors within said firing-pin but insulated therefrom,

i ing mechanism comprising a firing-pin, a .l I5.

coil-spring mounted under compression in said pin yand adapted to impel said pin forward to the firing position and toretract the 1 i so pin-point slightly after firing, a cooking-lever having an arm engaging the ring-pin andfprovided with a cooking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall ofthe gun, va sear pivoted in the gun'and provided with a cockingc toe adapted to engage the toe of the cookinglever, an arm on said scar, a spring connected tosaid arm and normally rocking said sear to the initial position, a sliding rod normally held in'engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod whereby said rod may erdrawn backward rocking said sear against the action of said spring, the said firing-pin being provided with a conducting-head insulated from the body' of the pin and from the gun, electrical conductors Within said ringpin but insulated therefrom, electrical conductors secured to the cooking-lever and insulated therefrom, and electrical conductors' from the latter to the source of electricity, whereby thel circuit is closed when the firingpin strikes the primer, substantially as described.

10. A combined percussion and electric Jringmechanism comprising a firing-pin, providedwith a collar near its forward end, the

, said collar being adapted to engage a shoulder onthe` breech-block before the pin strikes the primer, a coil-spring mounted under compression on saidfiring-pin and held between said collar and a shoulder on the' breechblock toward thev rear of said pin, a bellcrank cooking-lever having an arm engaging v j the firing-.pin and provided with a cookingtoe projecting into `a Aslot in the wallv of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided with a cooking-toe adapted to engage the toe of the cooking-lever, a spring normally rock- .y ing said sear to the initial position, and a trigger with mechanisn'ul controlled thereby for rocking said sear against the action of said spring, the said firing-pin being provided with a conducting-head insulated from the body of the pin and from the n, electrical conductors carried by said ing-pin and connected -to said head but insulated from the body of the pin, electrical conductors se-` cured to the cooking-lever and insulated.

therefrom, and electrical conductors contained in but insulated from the gun-body, with electrical conductors carried by an arm on the cradle and making electrical connections with the conductors carried bythe gun when the gun is in the initial or run-out position, thus leaving the only break in the circuit, that between the point of the firing-'pin and the primer, which break is closed when the ring-pin flies forward under the action of its' spring, substantially as described.

l l. A combined percussion and electric ring mechanism comprising a Jring-pin, a coilspring mounted under compression in said pin and adapted to impel said pin forward to the firing position and to retract the pinpoints slightly after firing, a cooking-lever having an arm engaging the firing-pin and provided with a cooking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear p ivoted in the gun and provided with a cooking-toe! .ver and insulated therefrom, andelectrical conductors contained in but insulated from the gun-body, with electrical conductors carried by an arm on the cradle and making electrical connections with the conductors carried by the gun when the gun is in the initial or run-out position, thus leaving the only break in the circuit, that' between the point ofthe firing-pin and the iprime'r, which break is closed whenthe firing-pin ies forward under the-action of its spring, substantially as described. Y

1 12. A combined percussion and electric iiring mechanism comprising a firing-pin, a coilspring mounted under compression in said pin and adapted to impel said pin forward to the firing position and to retract the pinpoint slightly after iiring, a cooking-lever having an arm engaging the firing-pin and provided with a cooking-toe projecting into a slot in the wall of the gun, a sear pivoted in the gun and provided v with a cooking-toe adapted vto engage the toe of the cooking-lever, an arm on said sear, a s ring connected to saidarm and normally roc 'ng said sear to the initial position, a sliding rod normally held in engagement with said arm, and a trigger carried by said rod whereby said rod may be drawn backward-rocking said sear against 'the action of said spring, the said firing-pin being provided with a conducting-head insulated from the body of the pin and from the gun, electrical conductors carried by said IOO IIO

iiring-pin and connected to said head but insulated from the body of the pin, electrical conductors secured to the cooking-lever and insulated therefrom, and electrical conductors contained in but insulated from the gunbody, With electrical conductors carried by an arm on the cradle and making electrical connections with the conductors carried by the gun when the gun is in the initial or runout position7 thus leaving the only break in the circuit, that between the point of the liring-pin and the primer, which break is closed when the firing-pin flies forward under the action of the spring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HALE DRIGGS.

Witnesses:

A. L. I-IOUGH, W. MAX. DUVALL. 

